Digital News Report – A comatose patient in Arizona awoke from his coma just hours before he was to be taking off of life support.

Sam Schmid, a 21 year-old college student, was involved in a car accident on October 19th 2011. After the accident, which caused a severe brain injury leaving him in a coma, doctors performed surgery hoping to improve his condition.

Sadly, the brain did not improve much from the surgery. He was still suffering from the damage caused by the brain aneurysm. His family and doctors began to prepare for the worst. Local reports suggested that the family discussed organ donation with the staff.

But within hours before being taken off of life support, Schmid was able to follow basic instructions. When he lifted two fingers doctors knew that he was on the road to recovery.

His family said this was the best Christmas gift imaginable and now Schmid is looking forward to leaving the hospital, hopefully within the next week.